Just found this on the BBC's web site about pilot shortage...
Helicopter crisis hits oil firms
Bristow is 'scouring the world' for helicopters and crew
A severe shortage of helicopters and pilots threatens the North Sea oil and gas industry, a leading firm has said.
The high price of oil means offshore activity is unprecedented, stretching supplies and crews to the limit.
Bristow, one of the world's leading helicopter operating companies, said it was "scouring the world" for helicopters, crews and technicians.
It claimed that the entire industry was struggling to cope with the lack of both aircraft and crew.
Bristow provides helicopter transportation, maintenance, search and rescue and aviation support, as well as oil and gas production management services worldwide.
'Avoid problems'
Willie Toner, the company's director of European operations, said oil and gas companies must include helicopter provision earlier in their forward planning.
He said: "In the same way that drilling rigs are booked well in advance, long-term consideration of future helicopter requirements would ensure that the risk of any shortfall in availability is significantly reduced.
"It would be very helpful if the helicopter operators could be part of clients' overall logistical planning from the outset."
He added that the delivery of new aircraft could take up to two years and the training of personnel takes between five and seven years.
Mr Toner said the company was investing "significant sums" over the coming years in fleet expansion, personnel recruitment and training to meet current requirements.
"We want to avoid any future problems by being more closely involved in our clients' forward planning," he added.
Aberdeen's heliport is one of the busiest in the world and the oil and gas sector is heavily reliant on helicopters.
Bristow also urged offshore companies to improve their forward planning, claiming the potential shortfall could have been avoided if firms considered their long term needs.
In a separate move, the coastguard agency recently agreed a five-year leasing contract with CHC Scotia which will run to 2012 providing a fleet of new helicopters to replace its existing helicopters provided by Bristow.